Written Answers Nos. 271 - 279
271. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dogs exported from Ireland; the number of dogs imported into Ireland each year since 2011; the earnings of this business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39220/15]
View answerThere are some 550 premises currently registered for export of dogs and 10,175 dogs have been exported from these premises during 2015. The records show that 98 dogs were imported during the same period. My Department has no information on the earnings from this trade.
I would like to emphasise that reinforced controls on the movement of dogs for commercial purposes (for sale or change of ownership) came into effect in December 2014 with the entry into force of Regulation 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 which is implemented in Ireland via Regulations made under the Animal Health and Welfare Act.
Under these regulations, all dogs exiting the country must be accompanied by a pet passport to show that they are identified by a microchip and are immunised against rabies. Dogs being moved out of the country for sale or change of ownership must be accompanied by an official health certificate showing that they come from a holding or business registered with my Department and that these holdings are not subject to any movement ban on animal health grounds.
Furthermore registered export premises must undertake to have the dogs regularly examined by their veterinary practitioner and must ensure that animal welfare requirements are met. The dogs must also undergo a clinical veterinary examination within 48 hours of departure, to confirm that they show no signs of diseases and are fit to be transported for the intended journey. The vehicle being used for the transport must be approved by my Department.
272. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to roll out the locally led agri-environmental scheme to facilitate farmers in hen harrier areas; if he will expedite the design and approval to ensure that long overdue compensation for this cohort of affected farmers is paid as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39224/15]
View answerIn the first instance, I would like to point out that farmers with hen-harrier land already have priority access to the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS). I also provided that such farmers would be automatically approved for GLAS Plus, should they be farming sufficient area of habitat. I would strongly encourage all farmers with Hen Harrier land to take up this measure under GLAS, which offers a payment rate of €370 per hectare. Farmers can earn up to €7,000 per annum through a combination of GLAS and GLAS Plus payments and some 1,400 hen harrier farmers have already been approved into the new scheme.
In addition, I have recently announced that I intend to introduce a further scheme of assistance under the Locally Led Agri-Environment measure, to cater for farmers who are farming large tracts of hen-harrier land. One of the principles of the planned locally-led measure is to explore new ways of managing farming effort for the benefit of the environment, and in this case for the benefit of the hen-harrier. When the new scheme is designed, it has then to be negotiated with the EU Commission and formally introduced by amendment to the Rural Development Programme. I expect that this process will be concluded early next year. Only one amendment of the RDP is allowed annually, which means that a number of items will be bundled together and presented for approval at the same time. The proposed amendment is necessary to get EU approval not alone for the new hen harrier scheme, but also for the various other locally-led schemes that I intend to introduce.
273. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme plus payment for hen harrier designated lands in the sum of €370 per hectare is not payable on commonage lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39226/15]
View answerThe vast majority of the specific GLAS actions are designed to be delivered on privately-owned land. This is because they require complete control of the land in question and the ability of the farmer to deliver quite complex actions independently. Under the European Union regulations GLAS payments must be justified based on income foregone and the cost of compliance. In the case of hen harrier payment, the bulk of the €370 payment is based on income foregone, resulting from reduced productivity as a result of reduced application of fertiliser.
None of this would be relevant to commonage land, which is not systematically fertilised or expected to yield a crop. On commonage land the payment is based on the cost of having a commonage management plan prepared and on the implementation of that plan, largely through a controlled grazing regime. The plan is expected to take account of important habitats present on the commonage and to provide for their conservation. Because of the additional requirement for groups of farmers to work together to deliver a successful commonage management plan, the payment rate under GLAS for commonage land increased significantly to €120 per hectare from the €75 per hectare previously paid under AEOS.
275. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39281/15]
View answerThe first tranche of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme under TAMS II closed on 25 September 2015 and all applications received will be examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. This is a complex process and as all applications for TAMS 2 must be made under a tranche-based approach, we are required to evaluate, rank and assess all applications received together. Applications cannot be approved individually on a rolling basis.
The applicant named submitted an application on the 1st of July 2015 and this application will be examined along with all others received before the closing date.
277. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 523 of 22 September 2015, the progress that has been made since his response in relation to the payment of a grant to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/15]
View answerThe claim for payment has now been approved in this case and payment will issue very shortly.
278. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a green certificate course will be postponed until 2016 without sanctions by his Department given the inability of the course provider (details supplied) to provide the course and the course provider's disregard for participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39294/15]
View answerThe Teagasc Green Cert course has been developed to meet the training requirements for full and part-time farmers. Decisions regarding course delivery in particular locations are solely an operational matter for Teagasc to determine. I understand that an issue arose in relation to delivery of the Green Cert in the Killarney local office. I have been informed by Teagasc that they very much appreciate the concerns raised locally and regret that some applicants were inconvenienced due to the late cancellation of a scheduled course. It arose, in part, due to the current unprecedented demand for the Green Cert. Two part time Green Cert courses are commencing in Killarney this week catering for approx. 60 applicants. Teagasc recognise the challenges attendance poses for part-time farmers and every effort is being made to accommodate them.
The exceptional demand for the Green Cert is largely attributable to the higher payments provided for trained young farmers in the Young Farmers Scheme and the National Reserve. To ensure that the benefits of the ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant’ categories are targeted at those who have a genuine interest in farming as a career, successful applicants must have completed, or commit to undertaking, a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 (Green Cert) or its equivalent. It has contributed to an almost five-fold increase in Green Cert enrolments from 500 in a typical year to 2,300 since late 2014.
I was pleased to be able to approve the recruitment of 40 new temporary teachers in Teagasc in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in order to specifically meet the demand for the Green Cert. Additionally, new arrangements have recently been finalised to provide Teagasc, with greater discretion to fill vacancies in specified, designated grades, subject to compliance with multi-annual pay ceilings.
279. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers participating in cattle discussion groups and in sheep discussion groups are eligible for two payments; if so, the rate of payment; if a farmer's own veterinary practitioner can prepare the new animal health requirements under discussion group measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39301/15]
View answerIn accordance with the provisions of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 participation in more than one Knowledge Transfer Group is not currently permitted. This is based primarily on the risk of double funding arising from commonality in the Knowledge Transfer scheme for the various sectors. However, following consultation with stakeholders, I have recently asked officials in my Department to examine the commitments required of farmers across the Knowledge Transfer sectors. This will be done with a view to establishing an appropriate reduced payment rate for participation in a second Knowledge Transfer Group in another sector while avoiding double funding.
As part of the Knowledge Transfer programme all participating farmers will be required, following one to one discussion with their facilitator, to complete a tailored Farm Improvement Plan (FIP). This plan will include Animal Health Measures for some sectors and participating farmers must engage an approved Knowledge Transfer private veterinary practitioner (PVP) to complete this aspect. The Department will shortly be calling for expressions of interest from PVPs who wish to be registered under the Knowledge Transfer programme. A full list of Knowledge Transfer registered PVPs will be published on the Department’s website as soon as it is available.
